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Guantánamo survivor on the war on terror’s failure

theguardian.com

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Re: Guantánamo survivor on the war on terror’s failure

#21

Post by La1n »

thejackgoode wrote: post #20
beckman466 wrote: post #3

Abby Martin from Empire Files made a beautiful video about the war in Afghanistan: https://youtube.com/watch?v=C3LFbOSPfrE

Google wants me to submit my passport (“age check”) to watch this video (despite being registered there since 2008). Any other links to it?

I don't have a link, but I've noticed that quite a few videos in the similar corner of topics need an "age check" (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2khAmMTAjI , the creator of which was (according to them) visited by DHS for "anti-american sentiments" [1] )

[1] https://twitter.com/_secondthought/status/133274615894763520...

Re: Guantánamo survivor on the war on terror’s failure

#22

Post by trasz »

La1n wrote: post #18
trasz wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How would this matter if they were tried by counties which are not US allies?

Most countries, even non-allies would not want to be invaded by the US.

Thanks to US we already know how to handle this - there is a plenty of secret locations in various different countries where the perpetrators can be safely tried and then handled according to the sentence.

Re: Guantánamo survivor on the war on terror’s failure

#23

Post by lostlogin »

trasz wrote: post #13
docdeek wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Clearly the US is exempt from the war crimes laws, and that needs to change. The US is not exempt from laws relating to war crimes. While it is not a member of the ICC, it is bound to the laws of war as is any other state.

That’s an obvious lie. US is extremely loyal to its war criminals - good example is how people responsible for downing Iran Air Flight 655 not only never got punished, but were actually decorated. Even Russia handles this kind of situations better.

It’s not much further back you hit My Lai. However there are more recent examples. The events Eddie Gallagher was involved in are grim.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Gallagher_(Navy_SEAL)

Re: Guantánamo survivor on the war on terror’s failure

#25

Post by hirako2000 »

beckman466 wrote: post #3

Abby Martin from Empire Files made a beautiful video about the war in Afghanistan: https://youtube.com/watch?v=C3LFbOSPfrE

Great summary of events. It is sad once again that it took over a decade for the obvious to start spreading.

I remember 2001, Bush and Co throwing silly justifications to engage. At that time most people felt that we should fight terrorism where it spawns. Years later Ben laden is supposedly caught, killed, and dropped deep in the ocean far off the coast, god knows where. No trial, no question asked really. Just the releaf that the most terrorising terrorist was done for. "We got him" as Obama said.

Re: Guantánamo survivor on the war on terror’s failure

#26

Post by sofixa »

blunte wrote: post #2

Key figures in US military and US leadership need to be held accountable. Same as with CEOs, if you only punish the organization and not specifically the leaders, there is no disincentive to doing it again. Clearly the US is exempt from the war crimes laws, and that needs to change. But it would require leaders of other major powers/countries to push for this. But… this will never happen because almost no leader want…

> Clearly the US is exempt from the war crimes laws, and that needs to change. But it would require leaders of other major powers/countries to push for this

I don't see this happening any time soon, without a popular movement that drastically alters the American political landscape. Whichever party a president and legislators are from, they have war criminals among their ranks, so they couldn't accept their friends, colleagues, "bosses", etc. being sued and going to jail for war crimes. Not to mention the American fetishisation of the military, a politician could hardly campaign on sending "our heroes" on trial. Heck, Trump pardoned a notorious war criminal and it was celebrated by some.

So, baring a switch to proportional representation which would allow more parties and variety, or a popular movement that swipes away the current two parties, i absolutely can't imagine that happening.

Re: Guantánamo survivor on the war on terror’s failure

#27

Post by the-dude »

blunte wrote: post #2

Key figures in US military and US leadership need to be held accountable. Same as with CEOs, if you only punish the organization and not specifically the leaders, there is no disincentive to doing it again. Clearly the US is exempt from the war crimes laws, and that needs to change. But it would require leaders of other major powers/countries to push for this. But… this will never happen because almost no leader want…

Hague (NL) Invasion Act : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Service-Members%27_Pr...

Re: Guantánamo survivor on the war on terror’s failure

#28

Post by trasz »

BiteCode_dev wrote: post #16
docdeek wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Clearly the US is exempt from the war crimes laws, and that needs to change. The US is not exempt from laws relating to war crimes. While it is not a member of the ICC, it is bound to the laws of war as is any other state.

The US went to war against the entire UN vote and suffered no consequence whatsoever, who is going to hold them responsible for breaking the rules of engagement ?

Its opponents. I can easily imagine eg Russia openly claiming that since the international law doesn’t apply to US combatants, they are to be assumed to be terrorists and not soldiers.

Re: Guantánamo survivor on the war on terror’s failure

#29

Post by rad_gruchalski »

thejackgoode wrote: post #20
beckman466 wrote: post #3

Abby Martin from Empire Files made a beautiful video about the war in Afghanistan: https://youtube.com/watch?v=C3LFbOSPfrE

Google wants me to submit my passport (“age check”) to watch this video (despite being registered there since 2008). Any other links to it?

I was able to watch it on a mobile just yesterday, in the browser.

Re: Guantánamo survivor on the war on terror’s failure

#30

Post by md_ »

sschueller wrote: post #24

What the US is doing to Assange at the moment is a war crime in itself.

These kinds of comments detract from the horror of the crimes in Guantanamo. It reminds me a bit of when Americans opposed to mask mandates liken them to having to wear yellow Stars of David.

Guantanamo detainees were tortured with stress positions, sexual abuse (including simulated rape), simulated executions (including being taken out to sea and told they would be thrown overboard), held in cold rooms, and told their family members would be arrested and put in prison.

This includes detainees who were later exonerated.

In comparison, Assange has been...in British custody pending the results of an extradition hearing? While contesting credible (be they right or wrong) charges of rape?

There's something deeply unjust in making this a discussion about Assange.

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